LED headlight

[garyS-NJ]

latest in LED headlights

I'm fed up riding my '79 GS1000 with Harleys that have the Daymaker LED headlights.. And cars have way better lights. Hell, even my friend's 2004 FJR1300 with incandescent headlights (two big ones) has awesome lights compared to my bike. I just never have enough light and always riding at night..

Anyway from everything I've read, the LED H4 Bulbs to install in our 7" buckets do not do a good job. People talk about beam pattern and cut off. And I'm thinking if this was the way then why do all the new bikes have high dollar dedicated LED lights like the day maker?? and now there are many chinese knock offs that may well do the job well..

So what have people done here to improve their lights?? I know my friend spoke of a smart light which lights specific leds within the enclosure depending on the lean of the bike. If I could get one of thos lights I could preobably implement an arduino dediocated processor to detect tilt and control the light.. But for now, I would be happy withj a good bolt in..

[garyS-NJ]

smart headlight

this!!! I want this and I want it now.
Smart light.
https://www.jwspeaker.com/blog/new-led-motorcycle-headlight-adapative/

[cowboyup3371]

There are many threads on here about the Truck-lite and more than a few of us who have changed to it. Great headlight. I used to hate riding at night until the first time out after installing mine.

[Rob S.]

Side note: What ever happened to Rob S.?

Still here, with my 8" "train".

Don't do much night riding, though. Maybe I should take off these sunglasses...

[Steve]

this!!! I want this and I want it now.
Smart light.
https://www.jwspeaker.com/blog/new-led-motorcycle-headlight-adapative/

For that amount of money, you could just about get a TruckLite for each of your bikes.

OK, not quite, but that is a LOT of money for a headlight.

I thought a TruckLite was a bit of money until I installed one in my wife's bike and saw the difference. That was the older generation light, and was not made for the rectangular version in my bike. I got the newer version for my bike and saw it was even better than my wife's, so I got newer lights for her bike and my son's bike. All three of them together would still leave enough change to pay for a full day of fuel and meals for all three riders.

Your 1000 already has a 7" bucket (uless it's an L), so the TruckLite would be pretty much "plug and play", but I would highly recommend changing your charging system by installing an SH775 R/R.

.

[garyS-NJ]

Thanks all for your responses. Can someone post a link for the new Trucklite LED for my 7" round headlight (actual bulb diameter 6.75" ). Is it the 7" round bulb we purchase for our buckets?? Oh, and I know I'm gonna get killed for bringing this up during our trade war but has anyone tried this $122 adaptive LED light?? https://www.ebay.com/itm/7-Round-Motorcycle-LED-Hi-Low-Beam-Adaptive-Headlight-For-Harley-Davidson-36V/283546048706

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Gary, I'm glad you brought this thread back around. I'm interested in the Truck Lite as well, but not sure about which one to get. Seems to be 2 models that might work:
27270C, non-heated lens
and
27275C, heated lens

What does heated lens mean and why would I want one or the other?
Either has H4 connection available.

http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10002&categoryId=13091&urlRequestType=Base&showResultsPage=true&urlLangId=-1&beginIndex=0&langId=-1&storeId=10001

Evidently they don't sell direct, site has a dealer locator that shows a bunch near me. I'm trying to educate myself before I go any of them.

[garyS-NJ]

Heated is to de ice the lens for snowy driving and should not be an issue for motorcycles unless you ride ice at night

[Steve]

Can someone post a link for the new Trucklite LED for my 7" round headlight (actual bulb diameter 6.75" ).

Certainly.
Amazon $150.

eBay $150.

... has anyone tried this $122 adaptive LED light?? https://www.ebay.com/itm/7-Round-Mot...V/283546048706

I don't know of anyone that has tried ANY adaptive light, but that one has all the suspicions of being a Chinese knock-off. Yeah, it ships from several US locations, but the fact that it is less than 1/4 of the cost of the real thing and is "Unbranded" in the description really makes me wonder about its authenticity.

Gary, I'm glad you brought this thread back around. I'm interested in the Truck Lite as well, but not sure about which one to get. Seems to be 2 models that might work:
27270C, non-heated lens
and
27275C, heated lens

What does heated lens mean and why would I want one or the other?
Either has H4 connection available.

http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10002&categoryId=13091&urlRequestType=Base&showResultsPage=true&urlLangId=-1&beginIndex=0&langId=-1&storeId=10001

Evidently they don't sell direct, site has a dealer locator that shows a bunch near me. I'm trying to educate myself before I go any of them.

Your choice should be rather simple. How often do you ride in snowy conditions where snow and/or ice might build up on the headlight?

The incandescent bulbs in cars get hot enough to melt the snow and ice, so that is not a problem. The same lights on a bike also prevent snow and ice build-up, but so does the common sense that is usually common in most motorcyclists. The LED lights run considerably cooler and will not melt the snow, so a heated version is available.

.

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Thanks Steve. I figured it was something like that. And thanks for the links. I’m thinking my wife might buy me an early Christmas present that she doesn’t have to know about. I do tend to park the bike when it’s snowing/freezing rain but I’ve never been accused of having “common” sense.

[Steve]

If someone else is going to be buying the light, I will ask you to be absolutely sure that they don't fall for the cheaper Chinese look-alike knock-offs.

It is pretty much like doing a search for an SH775 regulator. If you do a search for "Polaris regulator" or something like that (even including "SH775" in the search criteria), you will get a LOT of results for items that "replaces Polaris #4012941" or "fits Polaris Ranger", but when you look closer, they are unbranded or have some strange name. Same thing with these lights. There are some that are as cheap as $20, but the emphasis is likely on "cheap". I have not seen or tried any of them, but would advise you to "buy once, cry once" and get the real thing.

.

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Yep, understood. I put a genuine SH775 in a little over a year ago with your help, Steve. I have seen these knockoff LED headlights that are very tempting at the $20-$70 range. I will be sure to get the genuine Truck-Lite 27270C when I'm ready.

thanks

[garyS-NJ]

Thanks also Steve for the links on the trucklite 27270C. I'm sure it's a world better then any light I ever used. Would be nice to do a side by side compare to one of the knock offs but to see better for $150 I would spend even if just for reliability.. to be clear tho this light is approximate outline of a standard 6.75" diameter bulb that fits in our light bucket with wires??

Im sure the trucklite is bright and wide beam pwehaos throwing decent light in turns but im so lured by the adaptive light jw speaker video is very persuasive.. But has any one mounted one of these 7" self contained LED headlamps on their GS? The standard light bucket with ring and adjuster accepts a 6.75" diameter bulb and then the bucket has a little room to hide the spagetty ball of wires. These 7" lights wont fit in the adjuster ring and probably not fit in the bucket with wires.. maybe rtv to the bezel and screw that to the bucket and move wires out otherwise need some mounting adapter. The mount rings they sell seem to allow lady right and up down adjustment to mount into a 4 wheeler or perhaps a fairing

[Downs]

There are trucklite knock off options on Amazon. Ive got a trucklite in my GS1000 and like it quite a bit but it did run about 150 dollars or therebouts.

On my Jeep i run a set if the knockoffs and like those more. Better cuttoff and light output granted its 2 vs 1 haha.

[garyS-NJ]

do the 7" round LED lights fit in our bucket and adjuster/trim ring

Yes there are many 7" LED headlights but my question was if they fit in our OEM bucket with adjuster and trim ring the same as a OEM sealed bulb .l.l.

There are trucklite knock off options on Amazon. Ive got a trucklite in my GS1000 and like it quite a bit but it did run about 150 dollars or therebouts.

On my Jeep i run a set if the knockoffs and like those more. Better cuttoff and light output granted its 2 vs 1 haha.